Field Ecology Intern

The Minnesota Environmental Partnership is hiring a Field Ecology Intern to assist with their Land Conservation program from mid-May to late August 2025 in St Paul, MN. Responsibilities include conducting vegetation and wildlife surveys, participating in restoration research, managing field data, and training volunteers. Candidates should have relevant coursework or background in ecology and be comfortable working outdoors. The position offers a stipend and mileage reimbursement.
Overview:
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is seeking a Field Ecology Intern to assist with our Land Conservation program from mid-May to late August 2025. As a leading nonprofit organization, we work to protect, restore, and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. This internship offers a unique opportunity to connect academic studies with professional field and habitat restoration work. Responsibilities:
• Conduct vegetation surveys (training provided)
• Conduct wildlife surveys, including pollinator and monarch surveys, breeding bird surveys, and wildlife camera monitoring (training provided)
• Participate in active restoration research, including plot set-up, treatment implementation, data collection, and simple analysis
• Manage field data: enter field data, manage database, catalog photos, and keep project records
• Train volunteers in pollinator and wildlife surveys and assist with other volunteer restoration events
• *Qualifications:**
• Coursework or background in natural resource fields such as general ecology, restoration ecology, plant communities, conservation biology, soils, forestry, entomology, ornithology, wildlife biology, botany, etc. * Familiarity with vegetation native to MN
• Detail-oriented in terms of both field and office/data work
• Comfortable working in Microsoft Excel and Word and Google suite of products
• Have a reliable vehicle and be able to drive to project sites in Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Wright, and Sherburne Counties (mileage will be reimbursed)
• Comfortable spending long hours outdoors, and with adverse weather and field conditions (insects, dense brush, heat, sun, rain), and have suitable footwear and clothing for such conditions
• *Benefits:**
• A stipend of $3,600 - paid in two installments
• Mileage reimbursement at the current federal rate for travel to and from survey sites
• Opportunity to work in a professional but camaraderie-filled atmosphere
• Regular check-ins with Land Conservation staff to ensure goals are being met and additional support is provided when needed
• Ample support, including templates, contact lists, and training
• Ability to attend monthly FMR staff meetings and/or monthly staff lunches (if schedule permits)